Wolfi’s View on…Tony Blair’s 10 years…

Today our prime minister announced his resignation after 10 years in office. Opinion is very divided on the legacy he leaves behind: The Millennium Dome -Iraq – Britain’s “special relationship” with the USA – The National health service – Education – Civil partnerships for gay couples – The European Union – Cash for honours – Northern Ireland… Its certainly easy to comment on any leader in hindsight, but unfortunately my personal over-riding summary of the past ten years of British politics is one word: “SPIN” – resulting in a sense that politics (by all parties) is more about votes than it is about values.

Tony Blair leaves a legacy in many areas, but will history recall the substance of his legacy, or will it too be lost in the spin New Labour itself seems to have perfected? The closing words of his resignation speech today say a lot: “I give my thanks to you the British people for the times I have succeeded. and I give my apologies to you for the times I have fallen short. Good luck.”

A Christian response: “The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.”(1 Timothy 2:1-3, from The Message Translation)